Haridwar – Gateway to enter the Dev Bhoomi
Pilgrimage Importance
The melting pot of Indian culture and mythology, Haridwar inherits both natural and religious importance. Haridwar is the spot in the foothills of Shivalik, where river ‘Ganga’ touches the plains. It is believed that the trio Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma Lord blessed this region. The title Haridwar is an amalgamation of two words, ‘Har’ meaning lord Shiva and ‘Hari’ meaning lord Vishnu and the word ‘Dwar’ suggesting as a gate. You will find Haridwar serving as a gateway to the revered temples of Shiv Ji and Vishnu Ji in Badrinath and Kedarnath. Haridwar can be visited all around the year.
Festivals
There are many celebrations that go on around the year along with fairs and festivals. Haridwar is mainly known for hosting the popular Kumbh Mela, which attracts massive crowds. The fairs and festivals that take place are Ardh Kumbh Mela, Kanwad Mela, Haridwar Mahotsava, Ayurveda Mahotsava, Durga Puja, etc.
Places to Visit in Haridwar
Har Ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri is a sacred ghat which was constructed by Raja Vikramaditya in remembrance of his brother Bhrithari. Maha Arti is being practiced here every evening.
Chandi Devi Temple
The famous temple goes back to 1929 A.D. The founder of this temple was Raja Suchat Singh of Kashmir. Goddess ‘Chandi’ is worshipped in the sacred temple, who resides above the ‘Neel Parvat’ on the bank of river Ganga.
Mansa Devi Temple
The revered temple is perched atop Bilwa Parwat of Haridwar. It is believed that the Goddess ‘Mansa Devi’ fulfills your desires. The holy place is also a tourist spot as it runs cable cars that offer enchanting views of the city below.
Kankhal
The ancient Daksheswara Mahadev temple is based in the south of Kankhal town. A legend that surrounds this town is that Lord Shiva’s father in Law Daksha Prajapati insulted him in the occasion of a ‘Yagna’, gravely hurt by this conduct ‘Sati’ self-immolated herself in the ‘Yagna Kund’. The Daksha Mahadeva temple stands tall in memory of this grief-stricken story. The ‘Sati-Kund’ where the incident took place is also an important location.
How to Reach
By Air
The nearby airport is Jolly Grant situated in Dehradun. The distance from Haridwar is around 32 km. Regular flights connect this airport to New Delhi.
By Train
The place has a railway station at Haridwar that is well connected with trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Indore etc.
By Road
The National Highway no. 58 that runs from Delhi to Mana Pass connects Haridwar to Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar etc. and the National Highway no. 74 the starts from Haridwar goes on to meet Kashipur, Kichha, Pilibhit and Bareilly etc.
